Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) invites the public to discuss the uncertain future of wildlife and outdoor recreation management in the state at a meeting about the agency's financial sustainability, Tuesday, Sept. 26 in Denver.

Commissioner Michelle Zimmerman, the representative for non-profit conservation organizations on the Parks and Wildlife Commission, will join CPW's Northeast Regional Manager Mark Leslie for a presentation on the financial challenges facing the agency. Zimmerman's background is in non-profit land and wildlife conservation work, mountain bike racing, and outdoor recreation in every season.

"With our recent and expected population growth, we recognize that Colorado's future is highly connected to the sustainability of parks and natural resources, the availability of open spaces and trails, the conservation of wildlife, and ultimately, to the health of the agency responsible for their management," Zimmerman said.

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Earlier this year, a CPW financial sustainability bill passed the Colorado House but failed in a Senate committee. While CPW is an enterprise agency that relies on sportsmen and park users to provide funding for core programs, it still requires an act of the legislature to increase CPW's prices. In order to avoid anticipated budget shortfalls, CPW is looking at multiple revenue generating concepts. Since 2009, CPW has lost 50 wildlife related positions and cut $40 million from its wildlife operating budget. Permanent park employees have been cut by 5%, and the temporary parks workforce by 10%. Parks and wildlife managers caution that additional cuts are inevitable without an increase in revenue.

"Colorado's natural resources and wildlife are under increasing pressure from a growing human population," said Mark Leslie, northeast regional manager for CPW. "This agency has done its best to manage resources, but now we need to find effective ways to increase revenue to meet future challenges and opportunities. This is an important discussion we must have with our constituents."

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